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All Blacks

White admits interest in Pocock

With rising flanker Michael Hooper departing Canberra at the end of the season, Brumbies coach Jake White has made it clear he wouldn't mind replacing him with the best openside in Australian rugby.

Hooper is heading off to the Waratahs in 2013, a move that surprised many in the Brumbies considering his breakthrough season, and White confirmed after his team defeated the Force 28-17 that they were looking at Pocock.

Pocock, who became the Wallabies captain last month, is off contract with the Perth based franchise at the end of the season, and while he admits to strong feelings with the Force - he has said that he will look at other options.

The Reds and Rebels have also expressed interest in a player that Wallabies coach Robbie Deans declared a "freak" and the best breakdown operator he had ever seen.

It is possible that no other player in Australian rugby is in such high demand, and White believes that the Brumbies culture could entice Pocock to Australia's capital.

White said he wasn't trying to play mindgames or the like, just suggesting that there was an opening in the Australian Conference leaders roster for the 2013 Investec Super Rugby season.

"All I've done is make it quite clear that we have place in our roster for an openside flanker because Michael is obviously going back to the Waratahs," White said.

"There's been talk that David is coming up for renewal in his contract and we are handling it as diplomatic as we can in terms of giving him space.

"If he decides to come, that's fantastic and if he doesn't we have to keep going and find another player like Michael Hooper.

"I made it clear from when I took the job that I want people to come if they want to become better players and they can improve their rugby in Canberra. It would be wonderful if a chap like David Pocock says 'I want to come and be part of something that I think is special in Canberra'."